Movies & TV
Rayxia Ojo Talks About Her Role in “Supacell,” Fave Song of the Moment & #FreeSharleen
Credit: Rayxia Ojo/Instagram
British-born actor Rayxia Ojo brings the daring and adventurous Sharleen to life in Netflix’s hit series, “Supacell.” Given Sharleen’s brush with danger involving Krazy, it’s surprising she still decided to hit the club in a bid to make him jealous. But then, where’s the fun in a risk-free life? And “Supacell” itself is all about pushing boundaries. Rayxia admits to sharing Sharleen’s fearless spirit, making their connection even stronger.
In Supacell, Rayxia portrays Sharleen, the spirited sister of Sabrina, whose superpower is telekinetic abilities. While Sabrina navigates a tumultuous relationship, she also shoulders the responsibility of caring for Sharleen. It’s hard to imagine a Sharleen’s world without Sabrina’s watchful eye. But then, their sisterhood is a two-way street, each balancing the other out. Sharleen steps up when needed, like when she was ready to confront Sabrina’s unfaithful partner.
In an exclusive interview with BellaNaija, Rayxia Ojo lets us into her world. Raised in London, she maintains a deep connection to her Nigerian roots through music and food. Currently, she’s enjoying Olamide’s new EP, “Ikigai,” particularly the tracks “Metaverse” and “Morowore.” As for Nigerian cuisine, the actor, whose Yoruba name is Ayomide, has a penchant for Pounded Yam and Egusi, Asun, and Jollof Rice. Lately, she’s developed a taste for Amala and Abula (Gbegiri, ewedu, and stew soup).
She also talks more about Sharleen’s role, the sisterhood with Sabrina, and potential season 2 of the show, where Sharleen is free.
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Read the interview below:
Let’s talk Supacell. You’re in a series topping the charts globally, and everyone is talking about it. How does that make you feel?
“It feels remarkable, honestly. I’m really grateful to be a part of such a significant story, and it’s relatable to so many people across the world. There’s no feeling like it but gratitude, really.”
Sharlene is carefree, bold, and super adventurous. Did you find any personal connection to her characteristics that enabled you to play this character?
“I would say that I’m quite adventurous, too. So when I read Sharlene, I was like, ‘Oh, she’s a wild one,’ you know? I love that Sharlene speaks her unfiltered truth. She speaks her mind and doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything. I’d say that we’re quite similar in that sense because I don’t shy away from speaking my mind. However, the difference is that my delivery will probably be less direct than hers in most instances. But yeah, she’s a great character. I think she’s strong and stands her ground, and I respect that.
The series also highlights the strong bond between Sharlene and her sister Sabrina, where Sabrina often looks out for her. How do you think Supacell explores the theme of sisterhood?
“I think it’s what you just said, about how they look out for each other. I think it’s beautiful. You know, Sabrina being the eldest sister, does take the lead. But that dynamic does shift throughout the series. Where Sharlene is weak, Sabrina is strong, and where Sabrina is weak, Sharlene is strong. For example, when we were speculating that her partner was cheating on her, Sharlene was ready to take the lead and be like, “We’re going to his house, we’re pulling up.” So I feel like they balance each other out really well. Even in the smallest things, like Sabrina will be the one to cook, but Sharlene will do her hair and style her if she’s going out. So it’s like they balance each other out really nicely. And I feel like even if they’re on bad terms, it’s that kind of sibling thing that if you have siblings, you know, even if we’re on bad terms, it doesn’t mean somebody else can come and do you anyhow. Like, I will still have your back. And I feel like that was prominent throughout the series, which was really cool to witness and play.
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On a scale of one to 10, how intense was Supacell for you?
“Being a part of it, you know, I think it varies. The themes that were explored with Sharlene’s particular storyline were quite intense, especially what she faced at the hands of a lot of the male characters and the men in her life. So those scenes were quite intense. But even aside from that, I think filming in general can have intense moments, whether that’s things that are out of our control, like weather conditions or wardrobe malfunctions. We can’t really control everything as much as we’d like to. So those are all factors that contribute to an intense day.”
Do you have any favourite moments or scenes in the film?
“I feel like I have a few, but my favourite must be the trap house scene. I loved that one because when we were filming particularly on that day, we had loads of characters in the same place. So we had a lot of our friends and castmates on set that day. It was just good vibes and laughter. But then when it was time for action, I think I remember that day the most because the explosives were real, shattering glass and bits, and we were running through it. It just felt so intense, in the best way. So I remember that day, and that was definitely my favourite shooting day.
If you could have any of the superpowers, just one, which one would you choose and why?
“Easily, teleportation. Teleportation because I love to travel, but hate the travelling part of travelling. So if I could just be somewhere like that, I’ll take it. I’d probably do breakfast in one country, lunch in another, and dinner in another. So definitely teleportation. It just makes everything quicker as well.
What are you looking forward to in the season?
“Well, God willing, we have season two. I would hope for Sharlene to be free. #FreeSharlene. That is what I would look forward to the most. And also to see how the characters develop and grow. Now that they’ve been introduced and know how to use their powers, it would be cool to see how they grow and advance with their powers.”
